Coin-operated dispenser



July 11, 1967 D. F. KOCH COIN-OPERATEI) DISPENSER 2 sheets-snaai 1l Filed July 26, 1966 Fig. 7

Daniel F. Koch INVENTOR.

July 11, 1967 D. F. KOCH CO'IN-OPERATE) DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 26, 1966 Fig.4

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Fig.6

United States Patent O 3,330,394 COIN-OPERATED DISPENSER Daniel F. Koch, Berkeley Heights, NJ., assignor of fifty percent to Incoplas Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey, and fifty percent to Carrier & Koch Associates,

a partnership Filed July 26, 1966, Ser. No. 568,021 10 Claims. (Cl. 194-59) This invention relates to the renting of articles such as binoculars, tools, cameras, apparel, sporting equipment, etc., adapted to be stored within receptacles from which such articles are withdrawn for use.

It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide a coin-controlled locking mechanism for article storing receptacles of the aforementioned type which will prevent improper and unauthorized opening of the receptacle.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a coin-controlled lock mechanism for article storing receptacles wherein one or more coins of predetermined sizes must be inserted until such time as the article that has been withdrawn from the receptacle, is replaced and the receptacle closure closed. In this manner, premature ejection of the coin from the coin-controlled mechanism into the coin collection chamber will be prevented as well as to permit the user to recharge the receptacles for subsequent use by others.

In accordance with the foregoing objects, the coincontrolled mechanism of the present invention features adjustable and interchangeable parts in order to select different combinations and coin denominations to be accepted by the mechanism, relying solely on the -coin size for operation. Further, the mechanism is operative to prevent unlatching of the receptacle closure in response to any external impact forces directed parallel to the motion of the latching devices to overcome a serious defect in prior coin-controlled lock mechanisms.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described `and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing a coincontrolled dispensing receptacle in a `closed condition.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective View showing the receptacle in an open condition.

FIGURE 3 is a side sectional view through the closed receptacle taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 3 3 in FIGURE l.

FIGURE 4 is a rear sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated 'by section line 4-4 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a front sectional view through the receptacle in its closed 4condition showing the coin-controlled mechanism inoperative to unlock the receptacle.

FIGURE 6 is a front sectional view similar to FIGURE 5 but showing the coin-controlled mechanism in an operative condition preparatory to unlocking of the receptacle.

FIGURE 7 is a partial front elevational view showing the coin-controlled mechanism ejecting the coins received therein during Iclosing of the receptacle.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the release bar associated with the coin-controlled mechanism.

Referring now to FIGURES l and 2, it will be observed that the article dispensing receptacle generally denoted by reference numeral 10 is mounted on a vertical mounting surface 12 at any desired location rendering it accessible to the public such as the back of theater seats,

3,330,394 Patented July 11, 1967 the fences about a racing track, on tables, walls, etc. The receptacle includes an outer housing or a case 14 tixedly mounted on the supporting surface 12 and a closure 16 adapted to be pivotally mounted on the housing 14 by means of la hinge assembly 18. The closure 16 is provided with a pair of coin slots 20 and 22 adapted to receive coins or tokens of a predetermined denomination or size. When the proper coins or tokens are inserted, a pusher element 24 projecting from one side of the housing 14 is rendered operative when it is manually displaced inwardly, to unlock the closure 16 from the housing. The closure 16 may then 'be opened as shown in FIGURE 2 and an article, stored within the receptacle, withdrawn for use. The coins inserted through the slots 20 and 22 are retained Within the coin control mechanism as will be hereafter explained, until the article is returned to the receptacle and the closure 16 displaced to its closed position.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, it will be observed that the housing 14 includes a storage chamber 26 enclosed by a bottom wall 28 and a front wall 30 which extend horizontally across the housing 14 and secured to the side walls thereof by means of the flanges 32. An article such as the binoculars 34 are stored within the chamber 26 formed above the bottom wall 28, a coin collection chamber 36 being for-med below the bott-om wall 28 into which coins are ejected from the coin-controlled mechanism. The coins may be removed from the collection chamber 36 through an opening closed by the panel 38 which is held locked in position by a key-operated latch mechanism 40.

The closure 16 is held locked in its closed position through a pair of hook elements 42 and 44 secured t-o the inside of the closure by means of the -mounting bar 46 as shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4. When the hook elements are disengaged from the coin-controlled lock mechanism, the closure 16 may be opened and the article 34 withdrawn therefrom. The article is however anchored to the receptacle by means of an elongated flexible chain 4S one end of which is secured to the article and the other end to the anchor-ing eye-bolt 50 mountedv on the bottom wall 28 of the storage chamber. It will be apparent therefore, that as long as the article is outside of the receptacle, the anchoring chain 48 will prevent closing of the closure 16.

The coin-controlled lock mechanism is disposed within the housing 14 in front of the Wall 30 yand may be removably mounted by means of a mounting plate 52, 4as more clearly seen in FIGURE 3. The mounting plate when inserted within the receptacle between the front wall of the housing 14 and the front Wall 30 of the storage chamber 26, positions a guide bar 54 fixed thereto flush with the upper edge of the front wall of housing 14 aligning a pair of guide slots 56 therein with the coin slots 20 and 22 in the closure when the closure is in its closed position. The guide slots are of such a dimension as to bar insertion of coins exceeding a predetermined size.

The guide bar 54 together With the horizontally spaced guide elements 58, 60 and 62 tixedly secured to the mounting plate 52, slidably mounts a release bar 64 to which the pusher end 24 is connected. The length of the release bar 64 is such as to accommodate a limited amount of sliding movement within the outer housing 14. Accordingly, the release bar is biased to one position as shown in FIGURE 6 from which it is adapted to be displaced by means of the pusher end portion 24 in order to effect release of the hook elements 42 and 44. The release bar fixedly mounts in spaced relation to each other a pair of stop elements 66 and 68. The stop element 66 is mounted at the end of the release bar from which the pusher end portion 24 projects so that it may abut the side wall of the outer housing 14 adjacent to the slot 70 through which the pusher end portion 24 projects. Facing the opposite end of the release bar, are a pair of edge surfaces 72 and 74 on the stop element 66 which intersect to form a passage blocking point 76. Similarly, the stoprelement 68 located intermediate the ends of the release bar, is provided with the edge surfaces 78 and 80 forming the passage blocking point 82. The stop element 68A is also provided With a downwardly extending portion 84 forming a spring' anchor.

As shown in FIGURES and 6, a pair of latch elements 86 and 88 are pivotally mounted by the pivot plates 90 and 92 secured to the mounting plate 52- below the release bar 64, the latch elements being however in sliding contact with the release bar so as to present curved edge surfaces 94V and 96 forming a passage blocking point 98 confronting the passage blocking points 76 and 82 on the stop elements. It will be apparent therefore, that the stop elements and the latch elements form therebetween, on the release bar, a pair of coin passages having throat sections between the confronting passage blocking points. The latch elements are biased toward the stop elements tending to restrict the coin passages. Toward this end, a coil spring element 100 is interconnected between the spring anchor portion 84 of the stop element 68 and the lower end of the latch element 86 while a second coil spring element 102 is interconnected between the lower end of the latch element 88 and a stationary anchor 104 secured tothe side wall of the housing 14. The latch elements are thereby biased to limit positions determined by the limit slots 106 and 108 formed in the front Wall 30 Vof the storage chamber through which the bent 'engaging portions 110 of the latch elements extend as shown in FIGURES 3, 4 and 7. The engaging portions 110 not only limit clockwise displacement of the latch elements as viewed in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 in order to predetermine the dimension of the throat sections of the coin passages and the size of the coins held therein, but also project into the slots 112 formed inthe hook elements 42 andf44 tolockV the closure as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. The hook elements are also provided with cam surfaces 114 adapted to engage the end portions 110 of the latch elements when the closureV 16 is being displaced from an open position toward its closed position as shown in FIGURE 7 in order to pivotally displace the latch elementsagainst the bias of their springs 100 and 102. The

coin passages formed between the stop and latch elements are thereby temporarily enlarged in order to release or eject the coins 116. The coins are then guided downwardly intoethe collection' chamber 36 by'means of the coin guide elements 116 and-118 secured to the mounting plate 52.

When in use, the coin slots 20 and 22 and the coin guide slots 56 formed in the coin guide bar 54 will prevent insertion of coins above a predetermined size. Accordingly, coins below this size will be directed into the coin passages formed between the stop and latch elements on the release bar 64. If two coins of the proper size are inserted, they will be retained on the release bar as shown in FIGURE 6 just above the throat sections formed between the points 76 and 98 and between the points 82 and 98. When the release bar is then slidably displaced by meansV of the pusher end portion 24, the motion`so imparted to the releasebar will be transmitted through the coinsto the latch elements withdrawing the engaging end portions 110'from the hook elements 42 and 44 on the closure 16. The closure is thereby unlocked from the housing 14 so that it may be opened. Further, it will be apparent that as the release bar is slidably displaced against the bias of the spring elements 100 and 102, the tensions thereon are increased to insure that the coins are heldV on the release bar within the coin passages. If the V coins are too small in size, they will pass between the throat sections of the coin passages into the collection chamber 36. In such event, the release bar will not be effective torelease the latch elements. Further, if only one proper coin is inserted and held in one of the coin passages as shown in FIGURE 5, one of the latch elements 88 will not be released from its hook element 42. It therefore requires the proper combination of coin sizes to render the release bar'64 effective to unlock the closure from its housing 14.

kAfter the closure 16 is unlocked, the coins are held on the release bar as aforementioned. The coins are released or ejected into the collection chamber only when the closure 16 is displaced towardV its closed position as shown in FIGURE 7 because of the displacement of the latch elements against the bias of their springs by means of the cam surfaces 114 on' the hook elements 42' and 44.l Since the coins 116'must travel -a relatively short distance to pass they throat sections in their coin passages, ejection of the coins is assured even where the closure is rapidly displaced to its closed position. The edge surfaces on the stop elements and on the latch elements are therefore designed so as to positively urge the coinsl either upwardly or downwardly depending upon the side of the throat section on which the coins are located. The bias of the springs V and 102 together with the edge surfaces on the stop and latch elements therefore assure that theY coins are either held on the release bar or ejected therefrom. Further, since the springs 100 and 102 urge the engaging portions of the latch elements toward limit positions slightly spaced from the hook elements 42 and 44 within the slots 112 thereof, as shown in FIGURE 4, any sharp blows externally applied to the receptacle in the direction of movement of the latch engaging portions 110, will have no tendency to unlock the coin-controlled lock mechanism.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative-only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shownland described, and accordingly all suitablermodications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling Vwithin the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a receptacle having a closure, a coin-controlled lock mechanism comprising, at least two latch elements mounted by the receptacle and engageable with the closure for locking the same in a closed position, means biasing the latch elements into locking engagement with the closure, release means movably mounted by the receptacle for displacement along one direction, stop means mounted'on said release means for disengaging said latch elements from the closure in response to displacement of said release means when carrying at least two coins thereon, means limiting movement of the latch elements by the biasing means to limit positions spaced from the stop means forming restrictive coin passages transverse to said one direction holding'coins above a predeterminedsize on the release means, and cam means mounted by the closure for displacing saidV latch elements from said limit positions in response to closing of the closure to momentarily enlarge the coin passages and permit passage of said coins from the release means.

2. The combination of claim 1 includingV an article adapted to be stored within said receptacle and elongated, exible means anchoring said article to the receptacle and preventing locking of the closure by the latch means until the article is within the receptacle. Y

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said coin passages include throat sections formed by opposed edge surfaces on the latch elements and the stop means blocking passage of said coins'.

4. The combination of claim 3 including coin -guide means mounted by the closure and the receptacle for directing coins below said predetermined size into the coin Y passages.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said release means comprises, an elongated pusher bar having an end portion projecting from the receptacle and means slidably mounting the pusher bar within the receptacle in sliding contact with the latch elements, said stop means including spaced projections Xedly mounted on said pusher bar presenting said edge surfaces.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said coin passages include throat sections formed by opposed edge surfaces on the latch elements and the stop means blocking passage of said coins.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said release means comprises, an elongated pusher bar having an end portion projecting from the receptacle and means slidably mounting the pusher bar within the receptacle in sliding contact with the latch elements, said stop means including spaced projections xedly mounted on said pusher bar presenting said edge surfaces.

8. The combination of claim 1 including coin guide means mounted by the closure and the receptacle for directing coins below said predetermined size into the coin passages.

9. In combination with a receptacle having a closure, a coin-controlled lock mechanism comprising, guide means mounted by the closure and the receptacle for receiving coins below a predetermined size, a release bar slidably mounted by the guide means having spaced stop elements Xedly mounted thereon, a pair of latch elements pivotally mounted within the receptacle below the release bar and in sliding contact therewith, said latch elements having coin guiding edges spaced from the stop elements to form coin passages therewith and engaging end portions eX- tending through limit slots formed in the receptacle, means biasing said latch elements to limit positions defined by the limit slots blocking passage of coins above said predetermined size through the coin passages and a pair of hook elements mounted on the closure and receiving said end portions of the latch elements in the limit positions thereof, said hook elements having cam means engageable With the latch elements for displacement thereof from said limit positions against the bias of said biasing means in response to closing of the closure to momentarily enlarge said coin passages.

10. In combination with a receptacle having a closure, a coin-controlled lock mechanism comprising, means for receiving coins of a predetermined size, latch means engageable with said closure for locking the same in a closed position, release means rendered operative by reception of said coins for disengaging said latch means to permit opening of the closure and coin holding means mounted by the release means and the latch means preventing ejection of said coins from the release means until the closure is reclosed.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1892 Patterson 194-59 2/1927 Lazar 194-59 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A RECEPTACLE HAVING A CLOSURE, A COIN-CONTROLLED LOCK MECHANISM COMPRISING, AT LEAST TWO LATCH ELEMENTS MOUNTED BY THE RECEPTACLE AND ENGAGEABLE WITH THE CLOSURE FOR THE SAME IN A CLOSED POSITION, MEANS BIASING THE LATCH ELEMENTS INTO LOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CLOSURE, RELEASE MEANS MOVABLY MOUNTED BY THE RECEPTACLE FOR DISPLACEMENT ALONG ONE DIRECTION, STOP MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID RELEASE MEANS FOR DISENGAGING SAID LATCH ELEMENTS FROM THE CLOSURE IN RESPONSE TO DISPLACEMENT OF SAID RELEASE MEANS WHEN CARRYING AT LEAST TWO COINS THEREON, MEANS LIMITING MOVEMENT OF THE LATCH ELEMENTS BY THE BIASING MEANS TO LIMIT POSITIONS SPACED FROM THE STOP MEANS FORMING RESTRICTIVE COIN PASSAGES TRANSVERSE TO SAID ONE DIRECTION HOLDING COINS ABOVE A PREDETERMINED SIZE ON THE RELEASE MEANS, AND CAM MEANS MOUNTED BY THE CLOSURE FOR DISPLACING SAID LATCH ELEMENTS FROM SAID LIMIT POSITIONS IN REPONSE TO CLOSING OF THE CLOSURE TO MOMENTARILY ENLARGE THE COIN PASSAGES AND PERMIT PASSAGE OF SAID COINS FROM THE RELEASE MEANS. 